Placer County Air Pollution Control District is seeking applications for the 2013 Clean Air Grant Program. The goal of the program is to incentivize emission reducing projects in Placer County not otherwise required by law.

The open application period closes at 5pm Feb. 28. Applications are available online.

The district has approximately $950,000 available for eligible projects.

Eligible projects will be evaluated on a cost-effective basis, with respect to the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions (not green house gas emissions). All projects selected for funding must operate at least 75 percent of their time within Placer County and be completed within two years or less of grant approval.

For more info, call Heather Kuklo at (530) 745.2339.

• Lake Tahoe Community College has a revamped website.

• On Feb. 22 at 1pm the movie “The Avengers” (with free pizza) will be shown at the South Lake Tahoe Branch Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.

• Carson Tahoe Health is opening a clinic inside the Gardnerville Walmart.

• The bike advisory committee to Measure R meets Feb. 1 from 9-11am at Lake Tahoe Airport.

• Here is the El Dorado-Tahoe and Sierra Caltrans roadwork schedule.

United Blood Services donors can now complete their health history questionnaire online on the day of their donation. By choosing to fill out the online questionnaire before they come to the blood drive, donors will likely reduce the in-person interview to only a few essential follow-up questions.

Donors who complete the online health history questionnaire print out a Fast Track Donation Ticket and bring it with them to the blood drive.

United Blood Services will have a blood drive at the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District Station No. 3 – 193 Elks Point Road – Zephyr Cove on Jan. 30 from noon-5:30pm.

To schedule an appointment, log on and use the sponsor code: TAHOEFIRE or contact Kate or Carrie at. (775)  5883591.

South Lake Tahoe is looking for people to fill seats on the following commissions: Parks and Recreation, Clean Tahoe, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Advisory Planning, and El Dorado Commission on Aging.

Applications may be obtained at the City Clerk’s Office located at 1901 Airport Road, South Lake Tahoe between 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 13 at 5pm.

The City Council will make appointments Feb. 19.

New Moon Natural Foods will be hosting a beer tasting event with donations going to the Truckee Donner Land Trust.

The featured brewery is MOA Brewing Company from New Zealand. The suggested donation is $10.

The event is Feb. 22, 5-7pm.

New Moon Natural Foods is at 11357 Donner Pass Road, by the DMV, in Truckee.

By Cathy Locke, Sacramento Bee

Placerville-based Sierra Wildlife Rescue will offer classes in February for the public and prospective wildlife rehabbers.

The class for the general public, “An Introduction to Local Wildlife,” is scheduled from 1-3pm Feb. 9. It will focus on the natural histories of species found in El Dorado County and surrounding areas.

Classes also are scheduled Feb. 23 for people interested in learning to rehabilitate baby skunks and squirrels of all ages. “Rehabbing Baby Skunks” will be offered from 10am to noon, and “Rehabbing Squirrels” from 1 to 3pm.

All classes are at Sierra Wildlife Rescue’s Wildlife Center, 3030 Newtown Road, Placerville.

Reservations may be made by calling Barbara Barker at (530) 621.2650 or emailing barbaraewing@cal.net. Classes are free to Sierra Wildlife Rescue members. A $5 donation is requested from nonmembers.

The South Lake Tahoe Rec Center is have a Kids’ Night Out on Feb. 14 from 6-10pm.

Cost is $25 and includes pizza dinner, swimming, games, a movie (G or PG), and crafts.

Preregister before Feb. 12 at 5pm by calling (530) 542.6056.

Rec Center staff may pick up your child from the Boy’s & Girl’s Club Main Site if requested.

Due to an increase in flu activity in the South Lake Tahoe area, Barton Health is taking precautions to protect patients. Effective Jan. 25, Barton Memorial Hospital has implemented the following guidelines for hospital visitors, during the height of flu season:

Anyone under the age of 12 is not permitted to visit patients.

Siblings of newborn infants may be allowed in the Family Birthing Center after careful screening, but must remain in the patient room at all times.

No more than two visitors per patient at any one time.

Any individual with a fever, cough, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms may not visit patients at the hospital.

Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, such as visiting a terminally ill patient.

The Truckee River Watershed Council is hosting a presentation on the Coldstream Canyon Floodplain Restoration project on Feb. 12th from 6 to 7:30pm at the Cedar House Sport Hotel.

Coldstream Canyon is located in Donner Memorial State Park, adjacent to Truckee. Current land uses in the canyon include recreation, railroad corridor, timber harvest in the upper watershed, and residential development. Today the majority of the canyon is under the management of the Tahoe National Forest and California State Parks.

The restoration project is designed to reduce pollution from excess sediment.

RSVP is required by Feb. 7 to Michele Prestowitz at (530) 550.8760. ext.4, or mprestowitz@truckeeriverwc.org.

The Kings Beach Snowfest Parade is coming March 9.

The North Tahoe Business Association hosts this annual fun-filled event that featuring entertaining entries from many local community, nonprofit organizations and businesses.

The parade is from 11:30am-12:30pm. It travels east along Highway 28 between Secline and Chipmunk streets.

Snowfest activities continue throughout the day.

For more information, call (530) 546.9000.